Well done Lorna!

Huge congratulations - we've all been thinking of you. The world now IS your avocado ....

And who else is out there in our area with great news to share? Let us know. Meanwhile, spare a thought for Ben Scheffer whose ambitions were not so happily fulfilled.

And - we've just learned that Jonnie Hardy's got in to Leeds College of Music to study BA (Hons) Pop Music.

Something wicked this way comes ...

It's a shame. It's a real pity. But some people just want to either have what isn't theirs or damage things that aren't theirs.

Our area - the Adbaston Parish - has been afflicted lately with a series of thefts of acts of criminal damage that are making our wonderful community just that little bit less good to live in. Most people are reasonably security conscious, even out in the country, but broad-daylight thieving seems to be the order of the day at the moment. What do I mean?

• Criminal damage at Ivor's garage in Bishops Offley - tyres slashed
• Land Rover theft near Camp Crossroads - the thieves walked onto an occupied farm courtyard and simply drove off with the vehicle
• Theft of metal from the old primary school in Adbaston - neighbours saw the thieves at work and assumed they were workmen
• Theft of a trailer from the Hodson's in Bishops Offley - they opened a secured gate, hitched up and drove away
• Theft of a trailer from a builder's home at Elford Heath - outside our Parish I know, but another example of people assuming that the individuals had the right to do it

There are no doubt plenty of other examples - you may like to narrate some in comments here. So ...

What are we going to do about it? The Parish Council believes that reinvigorating Neighbourhood Watch could help, because we would then be more aware of incidents and be able to establish a pattern. What's your view? What would you like to do? Can you help with Neighbourhood Watch - we need people from all over the Parish. 

Your local Parish Council is willing to help ...

Bugle falls silent

It's a great shame when you just don't have the time to think. Work is so busy that it takes over your life and then the little things that bring enjoyment go out of the window. Bishops Offley Bugle has suffered from a lack of attention on my part and a lack of contributors and contributions on your part, dear readers (all three of you).

There's much to write about in our lovely little hamlet: the coming and passing of the seasons, wildlife wonders, local events - particularly on the Millennium Green, local gossip, the state of buildings that are falling down, not to mention sections that have been hijacked by unscrupulous lawyers seeking to sell their velocipedes!

So, what's the answer? The answer is ...

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Yep - it's that time again: bird scarers are touching the limits of the legal and driving residents insane. Farmers claim that it's necessary to ensure they don't lose their seeds down birds' gullets - however, if they were in a city, they'd been done for causing a nuisance.

Do we have a two-speed legal system in the world of the countryside? One for farmers and one for the rest of us? Sometimes it seems that way when you are herded off the road by mighty tractors bearing unstable loads; covered in mud by the leavings from a tractor's tyres on the highway; or have your tyres punctured by careless leavings of hedge clippings.

But ... would you really have it any other way. These guys are at the front line of food production. Without them we would only import food and be dependent on others for our daily bread - literally. They need the space to do what they need to do and sometimes, we just have to put up with the consequences. Bird scarers though, aren't they a step too far?

Strange Lights in Jacksons

As I walked my dogs through Jacksons Coppice early one morning I was drawn to a bright light shining out of a wooden box. The box was half covered by branches and lay just off the path.

Intrigued I followed the light.

If I had been a moth this is exactly what Chris would have wanted. He is our local moth expert and luckily I met him furthur along my walk so he could explain to me why he puts the boxes out. He is in the process of collecting data about these insects and you may see the bright light shining from the boxes if you are about early or late in The Marsh or Coppice.

Chris has asked that we please leave them alone so that he can collect more information about these insects.